Apparatus for washing and scrubbing paint rollers



March 11, 1969 P. MATHIEU 3,431,574

APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND SCRUBBING PAINT ROLLERS Filed July 1966 Sheetof 2 P. MATHIEU March 11, 1969 Z of 2 Sheet Filed July 23, 1966 PIC-1.2

United States Patent 3,431,574 APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND SCRUBBING PAINTROLLERS Pierre Mathieu, Rochefort-sur-mer, France (17 Ave. de Villiere,Paris XVII, France) Filed July 28, 1966, Ser. No. 568,499 Claimspriority, application France, July 28, 1965, 26,365; Apr. 14, 1966,57,546 U.S. Cl. 15-104.92 Int. Cl. B08b 1/00; D061. 3/00, /00

4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention has for itssubject a very simple and very efficient manual apparatus for washingrollers used by building painters. The speed of its action permits theusers to have in service only a relatively small number of rollers, therollers being able to be re-used immediately after their treatment,which only lasts a few minutes. As for its efiiciency, it permits alsoto have only a reduced stock of rollers, the latter being used, afterwashing, for another colour than that which has just been washed fromthem.

Finally, this apparatus, equipped with foldable feet, is easy to storewith a minimum of cumbersomeness.

The annexed drawings show two embodiments of the invention, by way ofexample. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an axial section of the first embodiment, arrangedoperationally with a roller in position to be treated;

FIGURE 2 is an axial section of part of the second embodiment, alsoshown with a roller in position; and

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 2.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, a tripod base 1 supports, in the exampledescribed, the main hollow body 2 of the apparatus, which has the shapeof an elongated cylinder with a generally vertical axis 0-0'. Each footof the base is constituted by:

(a) a half cylindrical iron 1a, welded or brazed obliquely on the sideof the cylindrical body 2, with, preferably, a spacing stop 1b;

(b) a tube or rod hinged at 1d to the iron 1a, and which can be fixed inan extension of the iron 1a (as shown in FIGURE 1), by a gudgeon or amovable pin l'd, so that by withdrawing the latter, the tube or rod 1ccan be raised about the hinge 1d and can be folded along the body 2,which considerably reduces the cumbersomeness of the apparatus forstoring it. The bottom end of each rod 10 carries an anti-skiddingbutton 1'c. The body 2 carries, at its lower part, a drain 3 having amanual valve 4. The body 2 is open at its top, and is provided with twoor more fasteners 55 on the side of the body near its top. The fasteners55 secure the head 6 of the apparatus (which will be described in detaillater on) to the body 2. In the core of the body 2 are provided two ormore longitudinal ribs 7 (only one of which is shown in FIGURE 1) forguiding an interior movable framework 8.

This latter comprises a bottom brace 86 and two rods 8a and 8b forguiding the roller 9. These rods 8a and 8b are parallel among themselvesand parallel to the general axis 00' of the apparatus. The bottom orbase of the framework receives, in its centre, the lower end of theaxial rod 10 whose upper part penetrates into the control head 6. To therods 8a and 8b are welded transverse rings 11 (only one is provided inthe example described) serving as spacers. A fixed ring 12 placedtowards the lower part of the axial rod 10' supports, the roller 9, whenit is in place the roller being gripped between the fixed ring 12 and amovable ring 13. The ring 13 can be secured to the axial rod 10 in theappropriate position by means of a gripping screw 13a, as will be seenlater on. At their tops, the rods 8a and 8b are hooked on thecatch-hooks 1414 fixed under the base or bottom of the control head 6.

The head 6 comprises a body 15 preferably in the form of a shortcylinder which has a grasping handle 16 at its top, and in whichpenetrates laterally a crank 17. The latter, by a conical pinion 18, canmake a second conical pinion 19 turn around the axis 0-0, the secondpinion 19 being'rigid with the rod 10 at the upper end of the latterwhich is maintained in axial position, by the sheath 20, fixed at thebottom of the control head, with the sealing crown 21. The head 6 istraversed from top to bottom, by the pipe 22 through which areintroduced the cleaning liquids for the roller, and which allows alsothe exterior air to enter during each emptying.

To operate the present apparatus:

Control head 6 being separated from the body 2, the user threads theroller 9 onto the rod 10. The end of the roller 9 situated towards thecontrol head 6 bears against the upper ring 13, which the gripping screw13a fixed on the rod 10 at the height corresponding to the length of theroller.

The user then puts in place the lower ring 12, which can advantageouslybe a nut which is screwed on the thread 10 of the rod 10, with possiblya complementary gripping screw 12a. The screwing of the nut 12 appliesstrongly the end of the roller 9 remote from nut or ring 12 against thering 13. The roller can finally be gripped in a still more certain wayby some claws 12" and 13" provided to this end on the rings 12 and 13.In that way, the roller 9 follows the movement of the rod 10, whoserotation around the axis 0-0' it follows rigorously, whatever be thedirection of this rotation.

The radial spacing of the longitudinal rods 8a and 8b is calculated sothat:

(a) the rods break up the gyratory current which tends to form in themidst of the liquid contained in the body 2 during the rotation of theroller;

(b) the ends of the threads of the roller flick these rods lightlyduring the drying, in order to complete the drying. These rods 8a and 8bare round in transverse section, so as not to cut or tear the ends ofthe threads.

The solvent (white spirit or equivalent) is introduced into the body 2by the pipe 22 or by the top of the body 2 before putting in place thecontrol head, and bathes entirely the roller 9. The user actuates thenthe crank 17 which, by the angle pinions 1 8 and 19, makes the rod 10and the roller 9 turn, sometimes in one direction, sometimes in theother, which stirs the solvent in the body 2. At the end of a timedetermined by experience, the rotation is stopped and the solventevacuated by the drain 8 with the bulk of the dissolved paint.

The user then introduces, through the pipe 22, the detergent to finishthe cleaning of the roller, then he effects the same manoeuvre ofrotation by the crank 17 after which the detergent is, in turn,evacuated through the drain 3. It is not excluded that, in certaincases, the user proceeds with a rinsing with alcohol or petrol or water,if he wishes a rigorously clean roller. This rinsing will depend on theimpregnation of the roller by the paint, as well as on the length oftime for which this impregnation has remained.

The detergent used second can be a commercial product; it does not enterin itself, into the scope of the invention.

The apparatus which has just been described is one-nonlirniting exampleof an embodiment, whose dimensions or proportions can vary withoutdeparting from the inventive idea. It could be made of any appropriatematerial resistant to the action of the solvents and detergents used.

FIGURES 2 and 3 show another embodiment of the movable interiorframework 8, or washing basket, in which turns the axial rod 10. In thisembodiment the control head is the same as in the embodiment of FIG- URE1, and has accordingly not been shown again. Also, the same referencesare used to designate the parts which are the same as in FIGURE 1.

The essential improvement provided by the embodiment of FIGURE 2consists in breaking the gyratory current of liquid by spiral springs24, 24a stretched parallel to the general axis of the apparatus, thesesprings playing the role of rods 8a, 8b in the embodiment of FIG- URE 1.

Referring specifically to FIGURES 2 and 3, the bottom brace 8c stillcarries the longitudinal rods 8a and 8b of rectangular section, andwhich carry welded to them at their ends, two transverse members 23, 23aof round iron, of semi-circular shape and having each several notches25, 25a and 25b provided to receive and anchor the ends of the twospiral springs 24, 24a working in tension, the separation between thetwo springs being determined by the choice of the notches, according tothe diameter of the roller to be cleaned.

FIGURES 2 and 3 show clearly that part of the coils of each springpenetrates slightly into the soft covering 9a (for example, thebristles) of the roller 9. This permits the elimination of the usualrubbing away of paint from the bristles or from the skin of the roller.The fixed ring 12, at the base of the axial rod 10, supports in placethe roller 9 which can be gripped on it according to the position of theupper ring 13, which is provided with a gripping screw 13a, as in theprevious embodiment.

The springs 24 and 24a prevent the gyratory current which tends to formin the mass of the liquid contained in the body 2 of the apparatusduring the rotation of the roller. As has been indicated above, theparts of the coils of the springs the most near to the rod are incontact with the roller whose threads flick the rest of the coilsbetween which they penetrate. The skewed movements imparted to thethreads of the roller (due to the helical shape of the coils) is veryfavourable to the Washing and drying. The wires of the springs areround, which prevent the risk of sectioning or of tearing the ends ofthe threads.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for washing the painting portion of a paint rollercomprising:

(A) an open top cylindrical body for holding wash liquids, and havingdrain means therein;

(B) an open frame in said body, said frame surrounding a centralrotatable rod member for holding said roller; adjustable rollerpositioning means on said rod for making said roller rotate with saidrod; at least one longitudinal member engaging at least a part of saidpainting portion of said roller during rotation thereof for breaking upgyratory currents created in said liquids by rotation of said roller andfor completely drying said roller; and gear means at the upper end ofsaid rod;

(C) a control head removably secured above said cylinder, said headhaving driving means permanently meshing with said gear means on saidrod member for rotating said member, and open liquid inlet meanscommunicating with said body for introducing said wash liquids thereinand air when said body is drained; and

(D) a tripod base.

2. Apparatus for washing the painting portion of a paint rollercomprising:

(A) an open top cylindrical body for holding wash liquids, and havingdrain means therein;

(B) an open frame in said body, said frame surrounding a centralrotatable rod member for holding said roller; adjustable rollerpositioning means on said rod for making said roller rotate with saidrod; at least one longitudinal member engaging at least a part of saidpainting portion of said roller during rotation thereof for breaking upgyratory currents created in said liquids by rotation of said roller andfor completely drying said roller; and gear means at the upper end ofsaid rod;

(C) a control head removably secured above said cylinder, said headhaving driving means permanently meshing with said gear means on saidrod member for rotating said member, and open liquid inlet meanscommunicating with said body for introducing said Wash liquids thereinand air when said body is drained;

(D) said frame having at least one helical spring stretched parallelbetween said longitudinal memher and said roller in contact with theextremities of said roller and means for adjustably securing said springto said frame in accordance with the diameter of said roller.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said spring has a roundcross-section to minimize the risk of damaging the end of the roller tobe washed.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said frame comprises a pairof semi-circular end members and a pair of helical springs stretchedtherebetween, said end members having a plurality of spaced notches foradjustably securing the ends of said springs according to the diameterof the roller to be cleaned.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,819,483 1/1958 Macauley 68-213X 2,895,154 7/1959 Belcher 682l3 X 3,075,534 1/1963 Habostad 68-213 XWALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

LEON G. MACHLIN, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 682 1 3

